Apple Pie in the Crockpot

Wondering what to do with all of those Fabulous fall apples?
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!

Crock Pot Apple Pie
Crock Pot Apple Pie ~ What could be better than making apple pie in your crock pot while you are at work?



8 tart apples, peeled and sliced

1-1/4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup biscuit baking mix

1 cup biscuit baking mix

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons cold butter



Toss apples in a large bowl with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Place in lightly greased crockpot. Combine milk, softened butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and the 1/2 cup biscuit baking mix. Spoon over apples. Combine the 1 cup biscuit baking mix and brown sugar. Cut the cold butter into mixture until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture over top of apple mixture.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

Preparing for the Holidays

I know, I know. It is not even Halloween yet, and I am planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, it is crucial to get my plan in place. I only get paid once a month, so I really need to plan ahead. I am on the lookout for coupons right now to stock up and start getting the canned food supplies and things I can stick in the freezer for gourmet fabulous meals for the Holidays. I know I want Turkey for Thanksgiving, and will be planning the menu soon. As far as Christmas goes, I have made my list of family members, friends and co-workers for gift giving. I have really been checking out various websites for home made gifts. Also while I have been out on my thrift store adventures, I have come across 3 suitable gifts (brand new, still in the original boxes and one even still has the price tag on) for the lucky recipients on my list. So far I have picked up PJ's for my mom, and 2 fabulous books for my dad and my sister. My daughter is getting a silver necklace that I got on clearance...I have everything hidden and tucked away, and I am looking forward to adding to my stash this week. This is my strategy for the Holidays in a futile attempt to be ready and not have to use any credit cards for any unexpected gifts. I like to be done early with Christmas gifts too. I do not have to run around like a chicken with my head cut off, and I can mail my gifts to out of state family right after Thanksgiving. I plan on having a Fabulous & Frugal holiday season!!!!

Books

Yes... I did it again. I managed to score 9 more books, all recently published (within the last 2 years) some even made book club status, and Oprah's reading list...ALL FOR FREE!!! I am super excited about this because Fall is upon us, and I hate Winter. Usually in the Winter I just work and read by my fire. I am such a fair weather Johnson, and Winters on the High Desert can be brutal (snow and ice) the only time I leave my house is to go to work. I am thankful I do not spend my Winters in Minnesota.......... Some day when I am old and arthritic, I will head South during Winter.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

ahhhh// Chicken Noodle

I am at the tale end of my week, and boy has it been a long one. I am completely ready for a weekend.
Today I made "Chicken Noodle"
I boiled the meat off of 3 1/2 hindquarters that were made on Tuesday
I seasoned the water w/ garlic salt, and pepper
I picked all the meat and skin off of the bones (nice treat for kitty, the skin and bones)
put all the "meat" back into my pot of seasoned water
added 4 stalks of celery/ chopped
added 5 carrots / chopped
cooked these until tender
added 1/2 bag of egg noodles~ cooked to package directions

This was super delish~ Once again my plan was to bring the left-overs to work.....and there was nothing left. I brought a sandwich to work.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Economic Recovery??

Wow, I just found out this recession ended in June 2009. Who knew? I am sure not feeling like I have received a windfall or even a raise at work. Just today I noticed that things seem more expensive at the store too. I am wondering how the Americans (or anyone for that matter) that are out of work are taking this fabulous news? I do know that I am going to continue doing what I am doing with my frugality, and sock away little by little in my savings account. It sure seems hard sometimes to put anything in savings with that ever diminishing paycheck. There is some good news with the stock market, I guess things are improving there. I do sincerely hope that this recession has passed. I am certainly not changing my lifestyle (or lack of lifestyle) any time soon. Regardless of how much money I am making.... I am going to keep saving, and keep living as frugally as possible.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal day!!!

Crock Pot Goulash

Spray crock pot with non stick cooking spray
5-6 medium potatoes, peeled & chopped in the bottom of the crock pot
1 medium onion, chopped
5-6 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 can of corn (drained)
1 can green beans (drained)
2 lb. hamburger
salt and pepper
1 can tomato soup + 1/2 can of water (mix this together, and pour over the top of all ingredients)

Starting with the potatoes, layer vegetables in the crock pot. You can use frozen vegetables but will need to add 1/2 cup water. Place raw hamburger on top of vegetables and top with the tomato soup. Cook on high 4-5 hours, or cook on low 6-8 hours.

Serve with Biscuits.


This recipe is simply fabulous. My kids and hubby love it. I was going to take left-overs to work, but there weren't any. This was perfect to throw in the crock pot and cook while I was sleeping.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

Book: A Purse of Your Own

I am currently reading "A Purse of Your Own" by Deborah Owens. It is an easy read on investing for women. This book is complete with questionnaires, quizzes, and resource guides, as well as stories from real women that have changed their lives by following Deborah's expertise. This is an excellent read, it is easy to understand especially for beginners, even with a limited budget. I started this book 2 days ago and am already 1/2 way through. Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Happiness

I read a most disturbing article yesterday....Oregon Suicide Rate Tops U.S., By Far...... got me thinking (oh no). Is it a chemical imbalance? Is it overall dissatisfaction? Is it job loss, the economy? Is it divorce or death? Do the majority of people in my State bring on this depression themselves? I have come to the conclusion that happy people do not commit suicide.

I have decided that I must be content and happy and here are my strategies:

Work~ I don't always love my job but I am grateful to have it.
I try to associate with the positive people at work, and in life, and ignore the negative people....they tend to be to "toxic" for my well being.

I try to get adequate sleep and exercise.

I don't worry about "Keeping Up With The Jones's" (I don't want their payments)

I read books and listen to music that I like, and find inspiring.

I try not to spread myself too thin, with too much on my plate. I find it too stressful and it makes me feel crabby. I try to have balance and sometimes I have to re-evaluate my activities on a daily basis.

I try not to be too hard or over critical of myself.

When I do "get down in the dumps" I change my focus, and take it "One Day at a Time"

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Online Learning

I have been checking out the free education sites and have come across Open Learn. http://openlearn.open.ac.uk It is college education based in the UK. There are all kinds of listings for courses to download, or print and also open forums, and study units. There are many topics and areas of study listed, and the best part is that it is free. If you like to learn this website is for you. Have a Fabulous & Frugal day!!!!

Online Banking

I am completely annoyed with my bank. I am anal about getting on my account everyday and checking the balance and balancing my payments that have hit the account. I have not been able to log on since Friday, and this being a long weekend the bank was not open on Monday. I called the bank on Tuesday and had my pin number reset....and it is still not working. I know I should not be stressed, there is money there but I just can't stand not being able to look at my account. I will be calling the bank again in the morning, and by the way I hate talking to people on the phone when it can be taken care of on the internet. This is such a catch 22 for me.

Paula Deen's Zucchini Bread

Here is the recipe that I have been using.... It is super delicious. I have had to add a little more water. And forget the nuts, they are too expensive and this bread taste great without them. Have a Fabulous & Frugal day!!!!

Ingredients
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup water
2 cups grated zucchini
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, cinnamon and sugar. In a separate bowl, combine oil, eggs, water, zucchini and lemon juice. Mix wet ingredients into dry, add nuts and fold in. Bake in 2 standard loaf pans, sprayed with nonstick spray, for 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. Alternately, bake in 5 mini loaf pans for about 45 minutes.

Economic Slump

I feel as if I am in my own personal economic slump right now. I have no desire to go shopping, no desire to buy anything outside of groceries and gas. I feel as if I just want to use up what I have, wear the same old clothes that I have been wearing. And take the money that I have at the end of the month and put it in my savings account. I know that I should be paying myself first....but I always end up taking money out of my savings account before months end, so I devised this new plan.
I have been making zucchini bread lately.... 6 loaves in the last 2 days, thanks to my friend Jamie. Free Zucchini, you can't beat that. I will post the recipe, it is super good and has been a big hit with my co-workers.

I No Longer Carry My Credit Cards In My Purse

I feel as though I have a made a positive step....It may be a baby step but trust me baby, it is a positive step. Over the weekend my zipper broke on my purse (which I will be doing some research on because it is a Coach) and I have cleaned out everything that I was carrying in that doctors bag, and when I switched to the new/old purse, I did not include my credit cards. I figure that I no longer want to add debt to the cards that I am trying to reduce and/or get paid off. I know this will be weird to get used to, but I figure with a little planning and determination, after a month or so I will not miss them. It is a goal of mine to have my two smaller limit credit cards paid off by the end of the year. Send me any tips or ideas that you use for not adding debt back onto your credit cards. Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!